Weather service issues fire watch for Saturday

A fire weather watch is scheduled to go in effect in the valley and in mountain areas below 4,000 feet from Saturday morning through Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

The NWS warned that there will be very low humidity and strong gusty winds Saturday, prompting the issuance of a fire weather watch, which is just one notch below a red flag warning.

The NWS forecast 20 to 30 mph northeast winds, with gusts of up to 60 mph, and a drop in the humidity level to around 5 percent.

“The winds will weaken rapidly Saturday evening but poor humidity recovery is expected Saturday night, with very dry conditions continuing into Sunday,” according to an NWS advisory.

The weather service also issued a wind advisory that went into force in valley and mountain areas at 9 a.m. Friday and was scheduled to expire at 3 p.m. Saturday and a high surf advisory for the coastline effective until 2 a.m. Saturday. Friday’s waves were expected to measure 6 to 9 feet, with breakers as tall as 12 feet, according to the NWS.

Swimmers and surfers will encounter dangerous rip currents, and the largest of the waves may wash onto beach parking lots, NWS forecasters said.

“Waves will occasionally break against the bottom of Ocean Beach Pier and wash over sea walls and jetties from Mission Beach southward,” an NWS advisory said. “The entrance to Mission Bay may be extremely hazardous, especially during the afternoon low tides.”